SHORT+SWEET JUDGING AND GALA PERFORMANCE 03 APRIL 2022
SHORT+SWEET “The biggest little theatre festival in the world” now completes the COVID-19-interrupted 2021 season (total season of eleven months – but not defeated) that started during May 2021. Finally in April 2022, over the weekend of 1st 2nd 3rd April 2022, you can experience all of the SHORT+SWEET semi-finals plays, and then the Gala Performance and Awards Presentation.
The best of the best can be seen, and thirty plays are presented during these three semi-finals. Ten of those plays are then in contention for the top prizes at The Gala Performance event, including Best Script, Best Production, Best Direction, Festival Director’s Prize and the new Actors’ Circle Prize (with five winners).
(1) AS NICE AS PIE
Male chauvinist inspired comedy, and delightfully complicated adultery with the perfect cast. New tenant is a female lodger, with unexpected twist ending. Every one likes pie. Audience favourite at the semi-final.
Written by Barry Wood
Directed by Lachlan McWilliam
STARRING
Adam – Don Ferguson
Claire – Alice Furze
Emily – Cassandra Chloe
(2) BURIED TREASURE
Inspired storytelling, as two siblings tell their stories, and their feelings emerge, and their repressed memories surface, all about their buried treasure.
Written by Jacqui Duncan and David Allsopp
Directed by James Brettell
ITC = Think With Your Feet Productions
STARRING
Natalie – Jacqui Duncan
Daniel – David Allsopp
(3) RIYA
Female monologue drama in two voices. Controlling domestic violence episodes, real-life fully explored, and based on a true story. Perfectly cast and superbly directed by Ruth Fingret.
Written and Directed by Ruth Fingret
ITC = Mary Parque Pty Limited
STARRING
Riya – Jyotsna Sharma
(4) A PERIOD PLAY
Costumed comedy delight set in the Jane Austen era, so many clever multiple double entendres, created a crowd pleaser at the semi-final.
ITC = Chalming Collective
STARRING
Rosamund – Anthea Agoratsios
Violet – Zoe Arden
Harry – Joey Sheehan
Tom – Sam Flack
Aunt Florence – Natalie Low
(5) I WAS FINE UNTIL YOU CAME IN THE ROOM
Now happily married for fifty years, narrated comedy masterpiece, about the day the couple first met.
Written by Rich Orloff
Directed by Kym Vaitiekus
STARRING
Old Helen – Caroline Larcombe
Young Helen – Rebecca May
Old Pete – Leonard Sun
Young Pete – Richard Wu
Fifteen minute interval.
(6) SWEETHEARTS
Pure Hatred versus Good Drugs (LSD). Minnie and Charlie have been unhappily for married six months, urgently need to divorce. Her parents do everything and then some, to prevent Minnie and Charlie from divorcing.
Written by Sophie Irvine
Directed by Olga Tamara
ITC = Lotus Theatre Productions
STARRING
Celia – Lynda Leavers
Richard – Graham Yates
Minnie – Annabelle Kablean
Charlie – Barret Griffin
(7) JUDGEMENT DAY
Going straight to hell on judgement day, fully doomed by her seven deadly sins, and especially having no-one speaking on your behalf, until . . .
Written by Katrina Samaras
Directed by Clare Burgess
STARRING
Angel – Geoff Cordner
Kate – Sarah Marie Reynolds
Pride – Tahlia Ransley
Greed – Elizabeth Newman
Envy/Mr Fluffy – Patrick Wells
(8) THE FORGOTTEN PLACE
Best Friends Forever (BFF). Eric interviews Kip at the ten-minute job interview, for Kip to become his paid BFF. Perfect direction by Garreth Cruikshank.
Written by Jeff Locker
Directed by Garreth Cruikshank
STARRING
Eric – Garreth Cruikshank
Kip – Nick Shields
(9) DATING THROUGH THE DECADES
Dating and exactly how much things do stay the same, dating is dating, however the music and the lyrics do change. Immaculately directed with panache by Gina Cohen.
Written by Ken Levine
Directed by Gina Cohen
STARRING
Boy – James Saunders
Girl – Ally O’Brien
(10) YOU WON’T BELIEVE
Clever female monologue, equally comedy and drama, delivered in two voices. Scam dating, the cat-fishing boyfriend and the permanent consequences. Directed by Frank Leggett, timing all perfectly blocked.
Written and Directed by Frank Leggett
ITC = Ampullae of Lorenzini
STARRING
Grace – Debbie Neilson
Ten Plays with total Running Time of 125 minutes, including one interval.
Expect that some of the plays may contain adult themes and course language, sexual references, drug use, flashing lights, loud noises and issues related to trauma including PTSD. Parental guidance is recommended for anyone under the age of 18.
SHORT and SWEET 2021 – CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR AMAZING WINNERS –
ACTOR’S CIRCLE – Debbie Neilson, Jacqui Duncan, David Allsopp, Lynda Leavers and Olivia Aleksoski
BEST SCRIPT – Jacqui Duncan and David Allsopp (Buried Treasure) and Jeff Locker (The Forgotten Place)
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR’S AWARDS – Frank Leggett
BEST PRODUCTION (People’s Choice) – You Won’t Believe
BEST DIRECTOR – James Brettell (Buried Treasure)
BEST PRODUCTION (Judge’s Choice) – Sweethearts and The Forgotten Place
SHORT+SWEET SYDNEY 2021/22 CREATIVE TEAM
Founder/Artistic Director – Mark Cleary
Festival Director – Nick Hardcastle
Festival Producer – Belinda Ling
Production Manager – Karen Ways
Technical Director – Addie Fowler
Stage Manager – Alex Liang
FOH Manager – Harrison Whale
Asst. Stage Manager – Kaelen Saunders
Publicity – Geoff Sirmai
Short+Sweet takes place on Gadigal Land. Short+Sweet acknowledge elders past, present, and emerging.
Short+Sweet Theatre (@ Tom Mann Theatre) Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) 136 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills, NSW
Friday 01 April 2022 – 7.30pm SHORT AND SWEET SYDNEY 2021 CREW CUT’S CHOICE SEMI-FINAL – APRIL 2022
Saturday 02 April 2022 – 2.00pm SHORT AND SWEET SYDNEY 2021 PEOPLE’S CHOICE SEMI-FINAL – APRIL 2022
Saturday 02 April 2022 – 7.30pm SHORT AND SWEET SYDNEY 2021 JUDGE’S CHOICE SEMI-FINAL – APRIL 2022
Sunday 03 April 2022 – 2.00pm SHORT AND SWEET SYDNEY 2021 JUDGING GALA FINAL – APRIL 2022
Sunday 03 April 2022 – 6.00pm GALA PERFORMANCE, WINNER’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRIZE PRESENTATION
S+S TICKETS – https://www.stagecenta.com/BkShowBooking.aspx?showid=6166
S+S WEBSITE – https://shortandsweet.org/festivals/shortsweet-theatre-sydney-2021
S+S FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/shortsweetsydney/
S+S PROGRAM – THE FINALS.pdf – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s2U8gQMGlT_L3nRjBfVgJ9eibeAHnnDm/view